Ground-wire attachment.



C. W. MESSNER.

GROUND WIRE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1908.

920,364, Patented May 4, 1909.

Inmate r M, W Ju /MW, WW Lewes Z fig UNITED STATES CHARLES W. MESSNEB,OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GROUIT -WIRE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Kpplication filed February 26, 1908. Serial No. 417,970.

tachment, of which the following is a specification. I

This inventlon relates to attachments for forming ground'connections forelectric C11- cuits; and has for its principal object to pro-- vide asimple, durable, efficient and comparatively inexpensive form of devicethat may be readily connected to or disconnected from conducting objectsas water or gas pipes or conduits of various sizes; and a further objectis to provide an attachment constructed in a manner hereinafter referredto adapted to receive the bare end of a ground wire so that a solderedcontact ma be readily and conveniently made aroun all parts-of the wireand a still further object is to provide a one piece device wherein anyleaking current will pass in an uninterrupted manner through the same tothe conducting object.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the im rovements hereinafter described andnally claimed. 1

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will bemore fully understood from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanyin drawings forming part hereof and m whic Figure 1,is a plan view of a metallic strip duly stamped from a blank and adaptedto be formed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2, is a view incentral section of the same. Fig. 3, is a view in elevation illustratingthe strip when properly bent into the form of an attachment embodyingthe invention. Fig. 4, is a top or plan view'thereof. Fig. 5, isasimilar view i lustrating the manner of-forming connection with aconducting object, and Fi 6, is a view in cross section, drawn to anenlarged scale, and illustrating asimilar connection..- I p In carryingout the manufacture of the attachment of the invention it has been foundthat good results may be obtained by stamlping from comparatively thinmetallic blan s if copper, brass or other, good conductive material, aone piece elongatedstrip 1, see Figs. 1 and;2, having at one of itsshorter ends a generally V-shaped, centrally arranged, comparatively lare notch 2, and upon each side thereof sma ler notches 3, of the samegeneral shape as the first mentioned notch. The corners of the oppositeend of t-hfi strip 1, are cut off as at 4, and at its upproximate centerhas stamped therefrom oppositely disposed tongues 5. Apertures suitablefor the passage therethrough of clamping bolts, hereinafter referred toare drilled in the strip 1, as at 6. The above described strip is thenbent to conform to the conducting object to which it is to be applied,see Figs. 3 and 4, and in this respect it may be remarked that agenerally circular band 7, is provided in the present instance and isadapted for application to a pipe 14, the said band terminating in flatoutward extensions or ears S and 9, of which the ear 8, is slightlylonger, than the ear 9. As is clearly illustrated by this formation theopenings 6, are arranged in 'alinement, one above the other, as are thelips 5, it being understood that when the str psl is bent into properform these lips 5'jproje 't within the band 7, of the attachment anderve to scrape the ipe 14, when the attachment is clamped and boltedthereto, thus insuring a bright, clean and ermanent contact. The outerend or notclied portion of the ear 8, is rolled or turned over as itwere to form a tubular socket 10, for the reception of the bare end of aground wire 11, the socket being so arranged that the wire within thesocket is held parallel with the pipe 14. In this connection the V-shaed notches afford convenient means for solc ering the ground wire withinthe tubular socket 10. The method of so soldering the wire consists offirst heating, preferably by means of a soldering iron, the wire withinthe socket and then applying a flux and, while the wire is still hotapplying solder to the notched portion of the socket which by reason ofthe said notches, freely flows within the socket and around the wirewithin the socket thus making a soldered contact that is neat inappearance and effective in operation. In this connection it may beremarked that the larger sized notch is used particularly for theinsertion of solder and the smaller sized notches provide means wherebythe workman may readily ascertain whether or not the solder so a pliedhas been caused to flow throughout t e entire length of the socket. Itis important to have the solder flow throughout the entire length of thesocket in order to provide a good connection.

The attachment may be clamped to a pipe or conduit by means of theclamping bolt 12, that passes throughthe apertures 6, in the ears orextensions 8 and 9, and is provided with a nut 18, in which the bolt isturned to draw the ears 8 and 9, together to closely embrace the pipe14, see Figs. 5 and 6, and the attachment being of one piece andc01nparstively thin metal a more or less resilient device is providedwhich obviously is advantageous in securing the same to a pipe or conduit. Also being a one piece device, any cur rent that cusses to thepipe or conduit, does so directly Without interruption such as would hecaused by tvvo parts overlapping or by passing through binding screws orbolts and nuts.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment of the class recited comprising a member terminating ina substantially flat extension, the outer end of which formed intosleeve, having a longitudinally notched edge.

2. An attachment of the class recited comprising e member terminating ins substantially fiat extension, the outer end of which is formed into asleeve, the longitudinal e ge of which is notched, said edge be ingarranged adjacent to said extension.

3. ettachment of class recited comprising a member terminating in a substantially flat extension, the outer end of Which is, formed into asleeve, having a series of solder receiving openings.

senses 4. An attachment of the class recited comprising a memberterminating in a substantially fiat extension, the outer end of which isformed into a sleeve, having a comparatively large centrally disposedsolder receiving opening and being provided upon opposite sides of saidopening with compara rively smell openings.

5. An attachment of the class recited comprising a member terminating ina substantially fiat extension, the outer end of which is formed into asleeve, having sub stantially ii-shaped solder receiving openings.

5. An attachment of the class recited comprising a member terminating ina substantially flat extension, the outer end of which is formed into asleeve, having a comparatively large centrally located V-shaped solderreceiving opening, and having arranged upon opposite sides of saidopening comparatively small ti-shaped o enings.

7. An attachment of the c ass recited comprising a general sleeve-likemember constituting a Wire receiving socket, said socket being providedwith a series of openings for the flowing of solder throughout theentire length of the socket. r

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

CHARLJS W. MESSNER. Witnesses ROBERT JAMns Enemy, WILLIAM J. Jsorrsou.

